Flush tank attachment for lever operation of atomizer deodorant cans



May 11, 1965 N w PR c5 l FLUSH TANK ATTACHMENT FOB LEVER OPERATION OF A'IOMIZER DEODORANT CANS Filed March 19, 1963 IIIIILJIIIIIIIIIIY/i/Z 17 I FIG.4

NATHANIEL W. PRICE INVENTOR.

BY JAM ATTORNEY i aterrted May l l 1965 United States Patent Office 3,182,337 FLUSH TANK ATTACHP/ZENT FDR LEVER QPER- ATION F ATDMEZER DEODGRANT CANS Nathaniel W. Price, 193 Main St, White Plains, NE. Filed Mar. 19, 1963, Set. No. 266,331 1 Claim. (Cl. 4-222) The object of the present invention is to provide means for automatic spray of a deodorant in bathrooms whenever the toilet flush tank is operated. A particular object of the invention is to provide effective and very inexpensive adjustable connector means between the flush tank operating lever commonly employed and a gas-pressure, valve operated, deodorant atomizer can, for operation by the usual downward movement of the flush tank lever.

The invention will be described'with reference to the accompanying drawings,.in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention held by a wall of a toilet flush tank and in position to receive a deodorant atomizer can being held vertically, the dotted lines showing the tank lever and operating lever for the can valve in lowermost position.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the adjustable can supporting member, and certain appurtenant elements.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section through the actuating lever.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view, partly in section, showing modified connection means between the actuating lever and can holder.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown at 1 the corner area, broken away, of a customary type of toilet flush tank. In use, such a tank will have a cover 2. At 3 is shown the customary operating lever of the flush tank, which is moved downwardly for an operative stroke. The valve actuated deodorant can is adjustably held on the side on the flush tank by a special bracket, referred to above as the adjustable can supporting member, shown more particularly in FIG. 3 at 4, in co-action with the companion member 5, shown more particularly in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that member 5 is formed at its top with hooked arms 6, adapted to lie over a wall of tank 1 adjacent a corner thereof, and depending from the hooked member is a bar adapted to lie into contact with the wall of tank 1, this bar being formed with spaced sockets at 7. The bracket member 4 is formed with a depending arm at 8, provided with a plurality of studs 9, which in practice may have somewhat rounded ends to snap into sockets 7 of the companion bracket member. Both of members 4 and 5 may be made of molded plastic, so that the studs and their receiving sockets may have a suitable degree of flexibility. The top area of arm 8 merges into a relatively horizontal extension which carries a curved channel member at 10, into which the rim 11 of can 12 may be positioned, so that the can is suspended. The lower end of arm 8 may be bent outwardlydto abut the can 12, or to serve as a rest for its lower en Channeled bracket member In is adapted to receive an actuating lever 14, the latter having a head at 15, to lie under the tank lever 3. The head 15 may have a depres sion, so that in the initial relationship of the tank lever arm and the head 15 of the actuator lever 14, the latter Will have resistance against lateral movement. At 16 is shown a usual type of vertically movable valve for the can 12, and over which actuator lever 14 lies. if desired, the actuating lever may have a foot at 17, FIG. 4 to lie directly upon the top of valve 16.

The outer end of the actuating lever 14 may be mounted on arcuate channel member 10 by any suitable means. In FIG. 3, member 10 carries a post having socket recep tion opening at 13, to receive the snap-in ball, at 19, FIG. 4 of the actuating lever. The post and actuating lever in such case will be made of resilient plastic or'the like.

In FIG. 5 a modified means for pivotally holding the actuating lever 14 on the channel member 10 is shown.

, Member 10 has upstanding spaced lugs 24 to receive the end 14 of the actuating lever. The lugs and end of the actuating lever are apertured to receive a pin or screw 25.

It is preferable that the lug at the left of FIG. 5 be threaded to receive the threaded end of the screw. The arrangement shown in FIG. 5 is suitable when no lateral adjustment of the actuating lever 14 is required.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made in the form and arrangement of the elements shown in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, without departure from the spirit of the invention. Thus the lower bent end 8* may be employed by proportioning the member 8 accordingly, to support a can at its lower end. Also, the snap-in studs 9 may be modified as having slightly hooked ends to enter appropriate apertures in member 5.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

A flush tank attachment for lever operation of the valve of an atomizer deodorant can or the like, consisting of holding means for supporting an atomizer can and adapted for mounting the can upon a flush tank in various adjusted positions, said holding means being a first bracket member adapted to be received by and supported upon a wall of a flush tank adjacent a corner thereof, a second bracket member having a channel adapted to receive the rim of a can for supporting the latter, co-acting interfitting means carried by the two bracket members, consisting of a vertical line of spaced apertures in one bracket member and at least one stud carried by the second bracket member, the second bracket member adapted to snap into said apertures for adjustment of the position of the second bracket member relative to the first bracket member, and enabling the second bracket member to be held by the first bracket member for vertical adjustment thereof, a straight can valve-actuating lever extending angularly across said bracket members, and means carried by the second bracket member for holding one end of said actuating lever, and in such manner that the opposite end of the lever may be positioned in registration with a flush tank operating lever.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,397,801 4/46 Mitchell 24-205.13 2,558,272 6/51 Rubenstein et al. 222509 XR 2,714,269 8/55 Charles 4617 XR 2,790,616 4/57 Cardinal 248223 XR 2,868,421 1/59 Schott 222394 3,068,492 12/62 Price 4222 LEWIS J. LENNY, Primary'Examiner. EDWARD V. BENHAM, Examiner. 

